The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has launched a three-day Intellectual Property (IP) training workshop at Bishop Stuart University (BSU), bringing together university staff, researchers, innovators, RETI project students, LLB students and Postgraduate students.
The training will focus on key areas of intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property policy, patent databases, innovation identification and IP filing.
In his presentation at the start of the workshop, Counsel Allan Byamugisha, the Head of Department, Faculty of Law, emphasized the need for universities to strengthen collaboration with industry, government, communities and development partners to ensure that research and innovation positively impact society. He also underscored the importance of protecting institutional intellectual assets.
Mr. James Tonny Lubwama, Assistant Commissioner for Patents and Industrial Designs at URSB, highlighted that ownership of intellectual property in universities is determined by factors such as employment obligations, funding sources, individual contributions, use of university resources and contractual agreements. He added that clear intellectual property frameworks are essential for fostering innovation, strengthening collaboration and promoting deliberate engagement between universities and industry.
The workshop is expected to equip participants with practical knowledge on intellectual property management and protection, enabling them to safeguard their innovations while enhancing research, commercialization and partnerships between academia and industry.
